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deGrom of the Mets voted NL Rookie of the Month for July

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New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom has been voted the National League Rookie of the Month for July.

The 26-year-old went 4-1 last month and posted a Major League rookie-best 1.39 ERA (5 ER/23.1 IP) and 38 strikeouts while tying for the overall N.L. lead in wins. His ERA was the League's third-lowest mark overall and ranked fifth among all Major League pitchers. deGrom held opposing hitters to a .225 batting average, which was the lowest mark among qualifying N.L. rookies, while walking just seven.

On July 8th, deGrom tossed 7.0 shutout innings while tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts (also May 31st) as the Mets defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves, 5-2. The Stetson University product followed that performance with another 7.0-inning gem on July 13th, helping the Mets cruise to a 9-1 victory over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. deGrom allowed just a single earned run in the contest and fanned eight en route to his third win of the season. On July 22nd, deGrom was similarly effective, allowing a single run across 7.0 innings of work as the Mets took a 3-1 decision against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The youngster fanned seven in the outing while issuing one free pass. deGrom capped his stellar month with his fourth consecutive victory on July 27th at Milwaukee, going 6.1 shutout innings in a 2-0 win over the N.L. Central leaders.

In doing so, he became the first rookie in franchise history to record a win in four straight starts while pitching at least 6.0 innings and allowing no more than one run. The streak broke a record set by Jerry Koosman, who had three such starts from April 11-23, 1968. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1982, only three other Major League rookie pitchers have won four straight such starts (6.0 innings with one earned run or less) in one season: Houston's Roy Oswalt (2001), L.A. Angels of Anaheim right-hander Jered Weaver (2006) and San Francisco's Matt Cain (2005). This is deGrom's first career Rookie of the Month Award.